NWTF Supports Colorado’s Proposed Constitutional Right to Fish and Hunt

The proposed ballot initiative would codify the right of the people to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife in the Colorado Constitution. It recognizes hunting and fishing as the preferred means of responsibly managing wildlife populations while preserving the authority of Colorado Parks and Wildlife to regulate seasons, licenses, bag limits and other wildlife management measures based on sound science, public safety and conservation needs. 

On July 8, 2026, supporters turned in 180,000 signatures to put the measure on the Colorado ballot in November 2026. A little over 124,000 valid signatures are needed to elevate the measure to the voters. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office is currently validating those signatures.  

If the measure makes the ballot in November, it will require approval from at least 55% of voters, as a constitutional amendment.  

If passed, Colorado would join a growing number of states that have adopted constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. Today, nearly half of all states have constitutional amendments recognizing the right to hunt and fish, reflecting broad public support for America's outdoor traditions and the conservation model they sustain. 

"Hunting and fishing have long been among the most effective tools for wildlife conservation and management in North America," said NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff. "Sportsmen and women have invested billions of dollars into conserving wildlife habitat, restoring species and funding state wildlife agencies through license sales, excise taxes and conservation partnerships. Protecting the opportunity to participate in these traditions helps ensure future generations can continue contributing to that legacy." 

The proposed amendment affirms that hunting and fishing remain carefully regulated activities guided by professional wildlife biologists and conservation science. It does not authorize the right to trespass on private property, eliminate hunting or fishing regulations or reduce the authority of wildlife managers.  

For the NWTF, protecting regulated hunting opportunities goes hand-in-hand with science-based wildlife management, conserving healthy wildlife populations and habitats. 

The NWTF has invested millions of dollars in Colorado through habitat restoration, forest stewardship, watershed improvement, and hunter recruitment efforts. Those investments benefit not only wild turkeys but also elk, mule deer, native trout, songbirds and countless other wildlife species while improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk. 

The initiative language also makes clear that it does not alter private property rights or limit the state's ability to regulate wildlife management when necessary for conservation, public safety or the future of hunting and fishing opportunities. 

The NWTF encourages Colorado residents to learn more about the proposed amendment and participate in the democratic process as the initiative moves forward.